At Harmony Veterinary Center, we are committed to caring for you and your pets through the Covid-19 outbreak. Our job is to protect our patients, our clients, our team, our community and veterinary medicine at large in the State of Colorado. We are temporarily changing some of our policies as outlined below until the crisis passes.
The current situation with Covid-19 is changing rapidly and we will provide updates as new information and recommendations become available. Please remember, we are in this together and as an essential health care provider for your pet, adjustments will be necessary so we can continue to serve you.
Social Distancing
Effective immediately we will be implementing the following regarding social distancing. This is perhaps the hardest for all of us as we often provide hugs and handshakes and a shoulder to cry on if needed.
- Harmony will be a hug free zone until further notice.
- No handshaking – although we may wiggle at you like a puppy because we are always happy to see you and your pet.
- Please refrain from entering the hospital if you are experiencing any flu like symptoms, fever, or cough.
- Please refrain from entering the hospital if you have recently been traveling abroad, on a cruise, or in contact with anyone who is ill or may be ill.
- Reception team members will ask you simple risk factor questions prior to you interacting with our staff. Please be patient with them, they are asking everyone to protect our community and team. This will help us to be able to stay open and continue to serve you and your pets.
- If you are feeling ill, have recently traveled abroad, been on a cruise, or have been in contact with other people feeling under the weather please let our team know and consider allowing a friend or family member bring your pet to Harmony.
We are implementing a limited pet pick up program for sick animals and pets belonging to at risk populations, including immune-compromised individuals and the elderly. This service is still being formed, it will be by appointment on a case-by-case basis and will have limited service to a 10-mile radius of Harmony Veterinary Center. Please call us if you need help getting your pet in—we are here to help.
Arriving at the Clinic
We are asking all clients to notify us by phone when you arrive at the hospital. Our staff will come out to your car and bring your pet into the hospital. Our nurses and doctors will then get on the phone with you to take a history and listen to your concerns about your pet. You may either wait in your car, or at home whichever is most convenient for you. We will do our best to estimate your wait once your pet is evaluated.
We are also asking clients to download the Zoom.us app on their smart phone. This will enable a two-way video conference to start with the DVMs.
After our team attends to your baby, they will bring them back to your car along with any medications or special instructions.
If you are just picking up a prescription, please call when you arrive, and our staff will be happy to bring it out to you.
This system is designed to minimize the interactions between people in our hospital and hopefully prevent any further spread of the virus. We appreciate your understanding and patience.
Urgent verses Non-Urgent Visits
We are asking that if you are in an “at risk” human population that you reschedule any routine wellness care for after May 1, 2020. People outside of those “at risk” populations can currently keep their pet’s routine wellness care appointments if they follow the above guidelines. If you would prefer to reschedule, our receptionists are happy to help you with this.
Urgent, sick, not feeling well pets will be given priority appointments. We know how hard it is when your pet is not feeling well to worry that your baby can get an appointment. By our hospital handling more simple urgent issues for your pet, our one emergency clinic in Arvada, Animal Urgent Care, can focus on the critical cases. We may ask you to get on a Zoom video call with us for follow up or triage.
Surgery and Dentistry
All elective surgeries that do not involve pathology will be postponed until after May 1, 2020. This includes simple routine dentistry, benign mass removals, stomach tacks etc.
Spay/Neuter surgery will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Non-elective surgeries will continue as scheduled.
If you have a surgery or dentistry scheduled in the next month, we will be calling you to discuss your pet’s specific procedure and reschedule if warranted.
Hours of Operation
At this time there are no changes to our hours of operation, however this may change as the larger situation changes.
Veterinary medicine is an essential medical service for our community. Our staff always takes great care in keeping the hospital clean and disinfected for your pet’s safety and your safety. Our cleaning protocols have incorporated the new recommendations from the CDC and AVMA.
Please know that there is zero evidence thus far that Covid-19 affects pets or is transmissible from pets to humans. Idexx, one of the largest animal labs in the country, has tested thousands of cats and dogs with zero positives. So, your baby is likely safe from infection.
With that said the AVMA and CDC are still recommending sick individuals use caution with interacting with their pets. Wear a mask, refrain from kissing them, wash your hands before and after handling them. We realize pets don’t understand social distancing and while this may seem like an abundance of caution, there is much we still don’t know about this virus.
We know it will seem odd to talk via video chat and through masked faces for the short term, we look forward to getting everyone though this in good health. We very much look forward to the time when this national crisis passes.
Be safe and thank you for your support, understanding and co-operation!
